Siringi remains in custody pending federal grand jury on LU threat

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, December 18, 2008

Several students prepare for exams in the hall of the chemical engineering building at Lamar University on Thursday, December 18, 2008.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Several students prepare for exams in the hall of the chemical engineering building at Lamar University on Thursday, December 18, 2008.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Siringi remains in custody pending federal grand jury on LU threat

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A Lamar University student accused of making violent threats toward the university and its staff will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at least until a grand jury considers the case, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Daniel Ogwoka Siringi, a 34-year-old student pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering, was arrested Wednesday on federal and state charges related to two e-mails he allegedly sent last week. He faces up to 20 years on the federal charge and up to 10 years in prison on the state charge.

Siringi, a U.S. citizen originally from Kenya, was allegedly upset that university officials would not permit him to graduate this semester, although an offer had been extended to allow him to walk the stage during Saturday's commencement ceremony. Members of Siringi's family planned to attend the ceremony, according to testimony during his detention hearing Thursday.

The first e-mail, sent Dec. 10, expressed frustration over the handling of his grievance and warned that a group of students he claimed to represent would take violent action against the university and some of its staff members if they were not permitted to graduate this semester.

"We just want to inform you that if your names are not going to be on the graduation list, Lamar University will never be the same," the first e-mail states. "Am sure you have heard the Virginia case among others. If you want it to happen to at Lamar (sic) don't do anything to rectify anormalies (sic.)"

A second e-mail, sent Dec. 11, further stated that "we are serious and ready to die for our rights."

However, during the detention hearing in federal court Jason Fisk, a special agent with the FBI, said that no weapons were discovered on Siringi and none were located in the house. Investigators did not find any explosives or any texts containing information that could be useful in planning an attack. Fisk said he was not aware of any prior criminal history and that there had been no reports of prior problems at the university or at the Texas Commission of Environ-mental Quality, where Siringi has been employed for the past seven years as an environmental enforcer.

Fisk said the FBI's joint terrorism task force was contacted soon after Lamar University president James M. Simmons received the first e-mail and that the investigation soon focused on Siringi because he was the only student not allowed to graduate this semester who expressed any frustration with staff.

Investigators questioned Siringi on Dec. 12, at which point he denied sending the e-mails, then learned from Lamar University Information Technology staff that the e-mail had originated from a nearby FedEx-Kinko's store.

Surveillance footage showed Siringi in the store when the e-mails were sent and an employee said she recognized him, Fisk testified.

After his arrest, Siringi admitted he had sent the e-mails.

A number of factors that emerged during Thursday's proceedings could have compounded the frustration exhibited by the e-mails Siringi is accused of sending.

Haron Siringi, a 25-year-old Beaumont warehouse worker, testified that his brother's first wife was dead and that he was divorced from his second wife.

Siringi has been taking care of his two children and an adult nephew who live with him, Haron Siringi said. He has also been financially supporting three nephews and his sick mother, who lives in Kenya.

During court proceedings it was also revealed that Siringi owes more than $100,000 in medical expenses, as well as more than $70,000 in student loans, obligations he must meet while earning about $2,400 a month from his job at the TCEQ and another $500 a month he earns as a researcher.

Haron Siringi stated that he would co-sign his brother's bail and try to ensure that he abides by any bail requirements. Siringi's attorney, Frank Henderson, noted that electronic monitoring could be used to help guarantee compliance.

However, Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin found that due to the violent nature of the threats and Siringi's family ties in Kenya that bail would not be appropriate.

Federal prosecutor Brit Featherston noted that the threats allegedly made by Siringi had a profound impact on university personnel, who considered canceling Saturday's commencement ceremonies after receiving the threats.

"When (FBI) Agent Fisk spoke with Mr. Siringi, one thing that came out is that Mr. Siringi still believes there's a possibility he'll graduate in the spring and was going to be able to present his thesis," Featherston said.

What happens, Featherston added, if Siringi learns that he won't?

Simmons would not comment about the possibility of Siringi completing a degree at Lamar.

Simmons, who spoke with The Enterprise by phone, said: "I can't really comment on that; I don't have any idea."